Paul Tomkins Thred - Legned

[Mirko Mandic]

this man is a legend supporter so im going to post his articles they are long but very intelligent and informed he runs alot of the fans sites and he aint a teenager but a well respected man who has a book on LFC.
he acctually gets interviews with the First Team squad.

WELL HERE IS THE FIRST INSTALLMENT:

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Fantastic article on RAWK from Paul Tomkins:

I've noticed a pattern: every summer, the same discussions arise. Two opposing arguments will be proffered on every possible signing: He's too this, or He's not enough that.

"Yeah, but..."

"Shut it, ******** . He's crap. End of."

Ultimately, it's the individual player in question who matters. We all look to what has gone before (at times I'm as guilty as anyone), but there is never a perfect precedent. Just because Player X didn't adapt to the Premiership, it doesn't mean Player Y won't either.

He might not, of course. But he is his own man, in a different period of time, and in a different set of circumstances. He is not a clone. You cannot replicate the situation as it was in the past, or even come close.

Signing a Scottish international from Celtic does not mean you get the next Kenny Dalglish. Signing an old baldy fella from Coventry does not get you another Gary McAllister.

It doesn't stop the repetition of stock arguments.


"He's Just A One Season Wonder"

Any player who has done well the previous season, but not beforehand, gets labelled the One Season Wonder. Almost always a striker, he will be compared to Marcus Stewart, Kevin Phillips (somewhat bizarrely, as he was rather better than that), Michael Ricketts (how did he looks so good for a while, and end up so bad?) and Andy 'How Many Penalties?' Johnson.

Of course, sometimes you cannot afford to wait for a player to be a 14-season wonder –– making your move at the precise moment he announces his retirement.

Then there's the issue of improvement: as a player's game clicks into place, for one reason or another. Is Peter Crouch improving dramatically, or did he merely have a good six months? (In a crap side, at that.) Bad and lucky players do not score 16 goals in 24 Premiership games in a poor team. Even the best players in the world, in the form of their lives, wouldn't do much better than two goals every three league games.

Would Crouch do better with players like Gerrard, Alonso, Luis Garcia, Kewell, Gonzales, Zenden and Figo (hopefully) supplying the service? You can but assume it would surpass a pass from Rory Delap.

And how can you judge a player who had to play for Graham Taylor at Aston Villa, with one who would play for Rafa Benítez at Liverpool? Same freakishly tall human being with comedy teeth, but one whose ability to succeed depends on working with a manager who can bring the best out of him. It is like giving lumps of clay to Michelangelo and a monkey to see which one can manufacture something aesthetically pleasing.

(Admittedly, Michelangelo has been dead for 441 years, and as such, the metaphor is slightly ill conceived; unless, of course, to even it out, the monkey has also been dead for 441 years –– in which case, the whole thing is just rather macabre: a dead artist, a dead monkey and two untouched pieces of clay...)

The opposite: "He's Crap Now, He's Lost It"; to be used for any player who hasn't scored a goal for three weeks.


"He's Too Old/Past His Best"

A perennial, this 'old' chestnut. The current debate surrounds Luis Figo. Class is permanent, after all –– although even the best players head over the hill at some point, and descend rapidly down the other side.

Figo remains a quality act, and is still fit, professional and dedicated. It's a bit like moaning that your old Ferrari "only does 220mph these days...". Ultimately it remains better than even the top-range Skoda.

Then again, if the Ferrari won't even start, as the engine spontaneously combusted (although isn't that what the internal combustion engine is supposed to do?), then even the most basic, fully-functioning Skoda would be a better choice to get from A to B.

Of course, there's always Mauricio Pellegrino: he didn't do so good, did he? Big reputation, but on the slide. Bit like Laurent Blanc at Manchester United.

Sure, but don't forget Gary McAllister.

Ah, but Pellegrino...

And repeat.

Good examples, and bad examples. I say potato, you say pottahtoe. I say McAllister, you say Pellegrino. Both are right; and neither are right.

Bergkamp and Zola remain prime examples of players still cutting it in their mid-to-late 30s. There are other players who looked past it at 29.

One last payday, or a legend with a point to prove? It's all about the individual.


"He's Too Expensive"

People like to assign players a set value, from which they are not allowed to deviate. Peter Crouch is apparently worth only £2.91758m in the eyes of most Liverpool fans, but worth over twice that to the Liverpool manager. Why?

The way I see it, Rafa has a set budget, which we are not aware of, and a hit-list of players on whom to spend that money. If he gets all the players he wants within the overall budget: bingo. That's all he cares about.

Is Peter Crouch worth £7m? If he is to Rafa, then he is to me. (Unless I'm being asked to foot the full bill; in which case he's a lanky streak of ****, and I can spare a fiver at most.)

Seriously though, if Rafa can spend a total of £7m on Figo, Zenden and Crouch, at an average of less than £3m each, then it doesn't matter which one cost £7m and which two were free? Three internationals, two of whom have achieved many, many things in the game, and another who appears to be coming good at a relatively young age.

Of course, the higher the price tag, the more pressure on the individual to justify it. But again, that's down to the individual, and you don't know if a player can handle that until he has the chance to. If he failed after previous big(ish) money moves, then that could be for a myriad reason.

Also see: "He's Too Cheap". As in "He only cost £3m or less, he can't be any good." (Josemi, Nunez ... Um, Hyypia, Henchoz, Riise, Baros, McAllister, Babbel.)


"Only A Reserve At Another Club"

One man's meat is another man's poison. Or in other words, what works for some may not work for others. Is Michael Owen any worse now than 12 months ago, despite being third choice at Real Madrid? Can you compare the standard of player between a reserve at Barcelona and a first team player at Birmingham?

This particular argument surfaced twice in the summer of 2004: it was used to denigrate Antonio Nunez, and yet Luis Garcia –– Liverpool's star in the knock-out phases of the Champions League, and joint top-scorer overall –– was only a reserve at Barcelona, even before Deco and Guily arrived. Luis Garcia may be a far better player than Nunez; but neither were in their respective teams' first XIs. Again, it depends on the individual, not their situation. Fernando Morientes was another who lost his first-team place at Real Madrid, but remains a class act.

The same can be said of one outgoing transfer: Alou Diarra. Good enough to play for France (although not a first choice, of course), but at Liverpool he was behind Gerrard, Alonso and Hamann. No wonder he opted to play first team football in France with the World Cup looming. Had Gerrard and Hamann left Liverpool this summer, along with Biscan, Diarra might have become a key player. Some teams are strong in one area, and at Liverpool it has been with central midfielders. You can't ask ambitious players to hang around as fourth or fifth choices for long.

A reserve at a big club can be a great player in need of an opportunity.


"Never Played For A Big Club"

Actually, this is one of my own favourites. While not essential, it's always helpful if a player has experienced the unique pressures of life at a big club: the bigger, more demanding crowds who expect success; the existence of a whole host of legends from the past to live up to; the regular appearances in European football; the extra press attention; and, of course, the likelihood of squad rotation, which brings its own challenge to confidence.

But even great players often have to make the step up at some stage. Juventus signed Zidane from Bordeaux, and the bonus was that he was a bargain. Real Madrid then bought Zidane after his first experience of a big club, and it cost them £46m. Juventus got the Frenchman's best years, and outstanding value for money.


"We Must Sign World-Class Players"

Always a good one, and certain to lead to a three-day debate as to what defines 'world-class'. World-class players, if (loosely) defined as the very best 50 players in the world (and not just those who grace the world stage now and then), tend to cost £20m upwards. Not to mention £20m+ in wages over a four-year contract.

Someone –– usually aged 15 –– will get overexcited and go too far as, high from the fumes of unchanged underpants, he suggests the manager should sign Robinho, Robben, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Ronald McDonald. The words 'Championship Manager' will appear in reply soon after.

Any team needs the best players it can get its hands on: providing they fit into the scheme of things. Real Madrid remain the perfect example of how buying the best players without any great masterplan can result in declining standards. World-class players demand world-class wages. If their egos are oversized, and they drag their weight rather than pull it, they can destabilise a club.


"No Premiership Experience/Might Not Settle"

Always a good one to pull from the bag to write off any potential signing who happens to be from another country. Every signing is a gamble: the same is as true of those from England as those from overseas. Clearly overseas players will need the possible period of adaptation, but it's not like anyone's asking them to switch from football to blindfolded tobogganing.

Apparently suited to the English game: Salif Diao. Patently unsuited to the English game: Luis Garcia.

While they are clearly different types of players, sometimes good players are all you need; the rest will take care of itself in due course. Better to get someone like Robert Pires working with the dedication of a Salif Diao, as you'll never get a Salif Diao playing with the skill of a Pires.


"He Wouldn't Get Into the Chelsea or Arsenal Side"

Always a bit misleading, this one. After all, Frank Lampard was Footballer of the Year, and yet many Reds would opt for Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso every time. Chelsea fans might argue that, given their parsimonious defence, which broke Liverpool's 1979 record for fewest goals conceded (in less games, mind), Jamie Carragher wouldn't get into their team.

Chelsea are perfectly happy with Lampard, and Liverpool are delighted with Carragher. Neither club needs to buy their rival's best player from 2004/05: although you'd always try to find a place for them, somewhere, if given the option.

Ultimately this is about what Liverpool need; not what Chelsea or Arsenal do not need.


Conclusion

So basically, the ideal signing would be a player aged around 24/25, with Premiership experience, who was born overseas in a sunny clime (they are always more skilful, aren't they?) but who grew up in the English game, and who has played in the latter stages of the Champions League at a club with a large home crowd and a tradition of success, as well as experiencing international football.

I fed all the information into my high-powered computer (ZX Spectrum 48k) and waited for 16 hours (in between a quick game of "Horace Goes Skiing") for the results to print out, dot-matrix format, on thermal paper that looks more like loo roll.

According to those criteria, the best signing the club has made in the last 20 years is...


... Harry Kewell.

©Paul Tomkins, 2005

[Mirko Mandic]

no one has comments about this ???? you cant say the bloke aint smart???
:annoined:

[Mirko Mandic]

The Tomkins Weekly #1

Welcome to the first of my weekly columns for YNWA, as I begin a regular review of the previous seven days' activity at Liverpool, and a look ahead to what awaits on the immediate horizon, as I attempt the role of Chief Titanic Iceberg Spotter.

Mid-July, and already three games played. Fortunately the stats read three wins, ten goals. The Ecstasy Factor has died down a little, but the Feelgood Factor remains.

Results at this stage of the season are often not even remotely meaningful, but against TNS the Reds had a competitive match (and a high-stakes one at that) against the calibre of opposition who normally open the pre-season friendly schedule. It should have been emphatic, and could have been six or seven nil. Three just about sufficed.

Winning is a good habit to get into, whatever the significance of the game, and this season we need to see the Reds win more of the less glamorous fixtures. Rafa seems to be building a squad for that very purpose: big on depth and variety, an option for every eventuality. Things are starting to take shape.

The confidence generated in Istanbul could yet play a massive factor in the season: success breeds success, and when you can come from 3-0 down to AC Milan, you must feel like you can do anything.

New boys

Before casting an eye at the new additions, I wanted to mention one of the 'like new' players: Djibril Cissé. It is not just that he missed so much of last season, but that he has 'found himself' as a Liverpool player in a way he hadn't at the time injury struck last autumn.

His Liverpool career effectively begins here, albeit with some additional bonuses: time to settle into English life, to learn about the Premiership (mostly from the stands, but a lesson in how it works, all the same), to get to know his teammates as people, and the chance to ponder life and priorities –– and just how lucky he is to be playing football at all –– after nearly losing his leg.

He has also lost some of the weight of a large price tag, as, twelve months on, it's less of an issue on people's minds. He's no longer seen as some kind of 'saviour', in the way expensive new signings are instantly regarded.

Against TNS he used his phenomenal pace out wide as a winger, but instead of merely using the turbo-charger to beat his man (or men, at times), he actually showed some delightful touches. Once he beat his man (or men), he delivered some telling crosses and passes. His Auxerre confidence is returning.

Then against Leverkusen he played as a striker, but worked the right wing in the way Thierry Henry works the left for Arsenal. That creates space as he drags defenders out of position, and the goalscoring midfielders can arrive late and unmarked into the box.

I prefer Cissé playing as a striker, but he can be effective in both positions. At Anfield, where there's rarely space in behind opposition defences, he may be more suited to playing on the wing, but his goals in France –– many poached efforts –– prove he is a penalty box player, as well as the kind who can burst through on goal –– as he did against the Germans on Saturday –– and finish with power or subtlety.

Gerrard, Alonso, Morientes and Kewell (if he gets fit relatively soon) will be like four more new additions to the team, given that for much of last season they were afflicted by serious injury, niggling fitness issues, acclimatising, or incessant debates about their future.

As for the 'real' new players, we've yet to learn anything much about Pepe Reina in a Liverpool shirt beyond the fact that he's not afraid to take out his own defenders when clearing a cross, in much the same way as Peter Schmeichel in his prime (although in the big Dane's case, you sense it was the perfect pretence to punch the crap out of Gary Neville and get away with it).

Momo Sissoko looked very athletic on his debut against Leverkusen, and sprayed around a good few passes, but was also a little sloppy at times. The comparison to Patrick Vieira was clear to understand in the way he gave away several hundred free-kicks in 45 minutes. Most were a case of being a fraction late, having made up a lot of ground on the opponent in the first place. He's raw, but you can sense the promise.

Bolo Zenden continues to impress me. He is one of these players who looks to cross at every opportunity; a player who is not looking to make a mug of a full-back (although he has the skill to do so), but simply work the space for a cross. One moment against Bayer really impressed me, when he didn't appear to have enough space to hook his foot around the ball but still got a cross into the danger zone.

His crossing style involves hanging the ball up into the danger area –– more of a chip than a whipped-in ball –– but not so much as to make it easy catching for the keeper. An inordinately tall striker (naming no names) would profit from such accurate delivery. I've said it elsewhere, but Zenden reminds me of Ray Houghton in his busy playing style and clever use of the ball. Houghton was never one of those headline-grabbing players, but always a valuable asset to the team.

With Barragan and Jack Hobbs (if he impresses on trial) only kids, and the exciting Gonzales injured, it will be a while before we get to see much of the remaining confirmed additions, but all add something to the squad, even if only redressing a deficiency in truly promising youngsters.

I can't help but be excited by the idea that Figo might arrive (although Inter Milan are now believed to be favourites), given how dedicated and fit he remains. If he choses Liverpool, it's because his main interest remains football; Milan would be more of a lifestyle decision. The La Liga connection at Anfield might hold some serious sway.

As well as a right-sided midfielder, a striker and centre back are still being sought. Real Zaragoza defender Gabriel Milito seems an interesting and surprising option at centre back, given he's the same height as Luis Garcia, but the lad has won rave reviews in Spain, and is from the Fabio Cannavaro school of short-but-damn-good defenders.

Rather than making a move for one £30m signing, Rafa appears to have overhauled the squad within that budget.

Almost certain to be leaving and thus generating more funds will be Jerzy Dudek and Milan Baros, given both are being kept away from European competition, so as to not cup-tie them. Both have a lot of talent, but neither has done enough on a consistent basis (although Dudek's first season was sublime).

I'll be sad to see both go, especially Baros, as he's a terrific individual when on form, and unlike Dudek, has another decade ahead of him. But I also understand the decision to tempt offers, given how difficult Baros is for other players to partner. Benítez likes to employ three attacking midfielders, and that means the striker has to be able to hold the ball up, and be aware of support arriving. Baros is too much of a maverick, but he, like Dudek, played his part in the remarkable European Cup success, and that's never a bad note to go out on.

The week ahead

So now it's a question of the players getting as fit and sharp as possible, as quickly as possible. At this stage of the season it's not a problem if a particular player looks a bit sluggish or rusty –– and one such player is Fernando Morientes.

The Spaniard has had plenty of goalscoring chances in pre-season so far (and scored two at Wrexham), but doesn't look fully up to speed. That will come, although there's no guarantee that he'll settle into the English game as expected.

Morientes, unlike Cissé, Sissoko, Riise and Gerrard, is not a natural athlete. The natural athletes tend to look the best earlier on, as they are the ones who can run all day on minimal training. Morientes needs to start imposing himself, but now I can see why many felt him to be less of a target man, and more of a link player –– the role in which he excelled at Monaco. It's quite conceivable that he could play games in a deeper role, behind a taller striker (naming no names).

The second leg against TNS is almost a formality, although perhaps the game is still alive enough to mean the team has to take it more seriously than if defending a 7-0 first-leg advantage. It's nice to see Rafa taking a very strong squad (or as someone today called it, his "sqwad") to Wales, as it's like a glorified friendly with nothing at stake unless TNS score a couple of (very unlikely) early goals.

Hopefully the Reds' passage into the 2nd qualifying round will come as a result of a few more goals and another clean sheet, and it might be a good chance for a few of the new boys to sample a British-style game.

Can I be so bold as to predict a Liverpool win?

© Paul Tomkins, 2005

[merseyboyred]

He is an excellent writer, I look out for his contributions on Liverpool sites, and the official site where he now has a column. His book has also got rave reviews and I may get round to buying it soon.

[Mirko Mandic]

Originally Posted by merseyboyred

He is an excellent writer, I look out for his contributions on Liverpool sites, and the official site where he now has a column. His book has also got rave reviews and I may get round to buying it soon.

me too lol but its bit pricey to send it to australia lol...

yeah, love his column of LFC.tv

[merseyboyred]

The latest column on the official site

[Mirko Mandic]

cheers, a class read.

cheers again,
Mirko, a OOT lol